Wear a poppy, lest we forget

Coun. Bill McNulty is joined by Jim Lamond and Peter Liu to sell poppies outside the liquor store at Ironwood Mall.

Photo by Chung Chow

In Flanders Fields

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In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead, short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

-Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae

May 3, 1915

The poppy has come to symbolize remembrance.

Inspired by Canadian poet and physician
Lt.-Col. John McCrae’s haunting “In Flanders Fields,” which he wrote during the
World War I Battle of Ypres in Belgium, small, red-coloured artificial poppies
are traditionally worn on clothing leading up to Remembrance Day to commemorate
military personnel who have died in war.

Poppy wreaths are also often laid at war
memorials.

“The idea is all about remembering the war
dead. It’s as simple as that,” says Matthew McBride, who is front and centre in
the Richmond poppy campaign, organized by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 291.

“People always ask how much does a poppy cost
and I always say it’s already been paid for. Whatever you feel like donating.
The benefit is we live in a very generous community and typically we get $1,
$2, 25 cents. We also see 50s and 100s come in. One hundred per cent of the
funds stay here in Richmond and are used to benefit veterans in our community.
But if people say we don’t have money, I give them a poppy myself because it’s
more about remembering. ”

The Royal Canadian Legion, which has
trademarked the poppy image, suggests the poppies be worn on the left lapel, or
as near the heart as possible.

Every year, the legion conducts the poppy
campaign which is organized and run by local legion volunteers at more than
1,400 branches across Canada and abroad. The funds are held in trust at every
level of the legion, and the use of these trust funds are strictly controlled, with
appropriate approval processes.

This year, the Royal Canadian Legion hopes
more than 18 million poppies will be proudly worn by Canadians between now and
Nov. 11.

“Every year, for two weeks, thousands of
Legion members volunteer their time to offer poppies and raise millions that
will be provided to veterans and their families in need,” said Dominion
president Gordon Moore. “While I am proud to be a veteran, I am also
particularly proud to be a member of the legion during this period when
millions of Canadians answer the call to help our veterans through the poppy
campaign.”